Quick summary of key school information
School details
| Number of students |
600 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
63 |
| Most common nationality |
Students come to OIS from across the globe with 58% from Europe, 22% from Asia, 15% from North America, 3% from South America, and 2% from countries in Africa and the Middle East. |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
Approximately a quarter of our student body is local, many of which have dual nationality. |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes, mostly. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
Students who meet OIS' admission requirement but are in need of English language support will receive support from the ELL department. |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
French, Spanish and Norwegian |
| Average number of students per class |
The average class size is 15 students in Primary School and 17 in Secondary. |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes, in Lower Primary (up to Year 3) and in Pre-School |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
We introduce children to technology early, but time is carefully managed on this in their early years. Children have access to ipads, laptops, our technology lab and innovation space. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Yes, all of our classrooms are set up to access online video conferencing. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
We introduce students to different cultures and religions, and take pride in celebrating diversity. We do not practice any particular religion at our school since our students have many different and diverse backgrounds. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
Students in our Upper Secondary years graduate with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
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| Results in these examinations |
Excellent. Students at OIS consistently achieve high above the global average in the IB Diploma Programme, which is recognised as one of the most rigorous high school curriculums in the world. From 2019 through to 2023, our pass rate in the IB Diploma was 100%. In 2024, pass rate was 97%. The point difference has been widening year on year between the IB Diploma global mean score (30.3/45 in 2024) and the OIS mean score (37/45 in 2024). |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes, but this varies depending on the age of the student. More homework is assigned in Secondary than in Primary. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
Almost all of our students go on to higher education institutions after they graduate from OIS. |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Yes, we offer English as an Additional Language and Support for Learning programmes. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
Because we have small class sizes, we are able to support the individual needs of our students well. Gifted and talented students are supported to thrive in our learning environment. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Yes. We have one full-time socio-emotional counsellor in Primary and one in Secondary. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
No, but OIS may request additional information, administer placement tests, or request an extra interview if deemed necessary. |
| Waiting list |
OIS does not retain a waiting list. Applicants who meet OIS requirements but were unsuccessful due to lack of space are invited to re-apply. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
Families intending to enrol in OIS at the beginning of a school year (typically August) are encouraged to submit their application and supporting documentation by 1 March. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Families relocating to Norway and intending to educate their child(ren) in English are invited to apply to OIS at any time. Students from these families may begin attending OIS throughout the school year. |
| School start time |
School starts at 08:45 in Primary and Lower Secondary. Some IB classes in Upper Secondary begin at 08:00. |
| School finish time |
School finishes at 15:05. Some IB classes in Upper Secondary finish at 15:45. |
| Supervised care before/after school |
Yes, We have a Young Explorers club for students up to Grade 6, which runs from the end of the school day until 5pm. |
| School bus service available |
Yes. We offer a bus service to students in and around the Oslo area. |
| School provided lunches |
We offer warm lunches (on a sign-up basis) three days per week. |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
The warm lunch service caters to those needs. |
| Uniform required |
No |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
OIS offers many clubs and activities. |
| Sports activities included |
Physical Education calsses are obligatory to all students from Pre-School through to Pre-IB. |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes. We have several sports teams and participate in several competitions at home and away each year. |
| Facilities at the school |
Library, Science & Computer Labs, Innovation Space. |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Two large sports halls and a multi-purpose hall. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Founded in 1963, Oslo International School is a fully accredited independent international day school for students from 3 to 19 years of age (Pre-School to IB Diploma). OIS is located in modern, architecturally unique facilities in a green suburban neighbourhood close to a public transportation hub. A school bus service is on offer to all children. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
OIS' mission is to provide a broad, stimulating and balanced high quality education that is anchored in a diverse, dynamic and supportive school community. |